Episode 165, The Secrets to Holy Living with the Marian Fathers
Father Pawel Naumowicz, MIC, is a priest of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A native of Poland, Father Paweł has served as a vocation director, prefect of seminarians, and Provincial Superior for the Marian Fathers in Poland. He earned his doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Since 2020, he has been the custodian of the Shrine of St. Stanislaus Papczyński, the Founder of the Marian Fathers, in Marianki, Góra Kalwaria, Poland.
In this episode, we discuss the book Build a Temple to God: A Retreat with the Mystical Temple of God, written by St. Stanislaus Papczyński. Fr. Pawel wrote a complimenting 10-day guide that offers practical insights into living Marian spirituality. It is available on shopmercy.org.
Assisting with translation today is Father Wojciech Jasinski, another member of the Marian Congregation who currently serves on the General Council in Rome.
Our Lady and the Marian Fathers
Revered as the “prophet of the Immaculate Conception,” St. Stanislaus Papczyński is known for his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, commitment to interceding for the living and the dead, and his role as founder of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
The charisms of the Marian Fathers include a profound devotion to the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, prayers and works of mercy for the living and the deceased, promoting the sanctity of life, and supporting priests in their pastoral ministries.
When we invoke the intercession of Our Lady, she always brings us to the mercy of God. At the wedding feast at Cana, she said, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Our Lady draws us to the place of grace, where God’s mercy overcomes sin and the deceits of the Evil One.
Living Holy Lives
In Chapter 2, titled You Are the Temple of God, St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). We are called to live holy lives, doing God’s will and allowing ourselves to become mystical temples of His presence.
Our consecration begins with baptism when the stain of original sin is washed away, a mystery closely tied to the Immaculate Conception.
In the chapter Around the Altar, St. Stanislaus reflects on Jesus praying for the fulfillment of the Father’s will. Father Paweł poses this question to us: “Am I praying for the fulfillment of God’s will in my life, or am I more focused on the fulfillment of my desires?” Striving for holiness means prioritizing God’s will above all else.
Father Paweł explains that on the altar of our hearts stands the lampstand of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit sets our hearts aflame, consoles us, and convicts us of the truth, enabling us to persevere in grace and draw closer to God through life’s trials.
In the chapter Taking Care of the Temple, St. Stanislaus teaches: “He who does good is recognized as the Temple of God; he who does evil is a chapel of the devil.” While we cannot earn God’s mercy through our actions, if we are filled with the love of God, we will see the needs of others more clearly and respond with greater charity.
